2022 Volkl Kanjo 84

The Kanjo 84 from Volkl probably doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. The success and popularity of their wider, heavier skis like the Kendo 88 and Mantra essentially overshadow the narrower, lighter models. We certainly aren’t taking anything away from those skis as they’re both excellent, but the lighter, more forgiving Kanjo 84 may actually be a better choice for you if you’re a less aggressive skier, on the lighter side of the weight spectrum, or closer to the intermediate ability level. If you’re all of those things, it’s almost definitely a better choice than heavier skis like the Kendo. Volkl uses their Multi-Layer wood core and enhances its performance with Glass Frame. Glass Frame is providing similar benefits to Titanal Frame, but is lighter and more energetic. Underfoot, the Kanjo 84 gets a Titanal Binding Platform which helps with binding retention, while also giving it a more damp, smooth feel underfoot. There’s slight tip and tail rocker on the Kanjo 84, but it’s mostly camber. Volkl’s 3D.Radius is also featured in the design, which utilizes longer radii in the tips and tails and a shorter radius underfoot. In the 175 cm length, the tip is 25 m, tail is 20 m, and underfoot is 17 m. This allows the skier to make a plethora of different turn shapes by weighting the ski differently and/or flexing it into a shorter arc.

Matt McAlary tested the 175 cm length. He thought that felt a little too short for him, but also commented that the Kanjo 84 skis true to size. “I would say go with your recommended length, no need to size up.” Matt was most impressed by the quickness and responsiveness of the Kanjo 84 and also enjoyed its approachable, user-friendly feel. “I was excited to ski the Kanjo 84 in the bumps as I felt it had the right flex, weight and maneuverability to be a fun bump ski. I definitely enjoyed it in that type of terrain the most, at least in the conditions we were testing in. I think a lot of lower level or intermediate level skiers would enjoy the balance of stability and forgiveness this ski provides. Not all the edge grip in the world for really charging on groomers but I think this ski suits skiers who tend to release the ski a bit more anyway. I am probably a bit too heavy for the ski as well and could see how a lighter, upper-end skier would enjoy this ski. It did feel more lively than other skis with a ton of metal which I think a lot of people enjoy in a ski.”

Jeff Siegel also tested that 175 cm length. He thought he could ski either the 175 or 182, but “understanding that the ski isn’t a speed demon, I think I’d recommend the versatility of the shorter length.” That’s good feedback for anyone who feels stuck between two lengths. Jeff’s highest scores were for quickness/maneuverability, playfulness, torsional stiffness/edge grip (all 4's out of 5), and forgiveness (a full 5 out of 5). Stability dropped to 2 out of 5, his lowest score for the Kanjo 84. With its lighter feel and Jeff’s stature, we’re not surprised by that assessment, as the Kanjo is not intended to be a tremendously stable ski for a bigger skier. “Great ski for intermediate and advanced skiers, but a larger expert will likely over-power it.” Again, that makes a lot of sense given the fact Volkl has skis like the Kendo 88, M6 Mantra, and plenty of others to satisfy those heavier, more aggressive skiers. Josh Wolfgang also hopped on the 175 cm length and overall had a similar experience to Jeff. Josh also found a lot of precision and torsional stiffness in the Kanjo 84. “The Glass Frame is great for maintaining torsional stiffness, while still being light and playful.”

The Kanjo is a really fun all-mountain ski. It’s light, it’s quick, and it’s agile, but it also can carve well too. It’s a lot of fun in moguls due to its quickness and the snappy feel on your feet. A lighter skier won’t have any issues with stability when skiing faster on groomers, although as Jeff and Matt both mentioned, if you’re on the heavier side, you may want to consider moving into a ski like the Kendo 88.